How Does Polyphemus Show Sympathy In The Odyssey

This morning was like any other day. I got up to see the sun rise, and then I went into the forest to find something to eat for breakfast. Most days were quiet in the land of the Cyclopes. All you could hear were your own thoughts, and the occasional chirp from a nearby bird. Most of the inhabitants kept to themselves, and no one entered others’ property without previous consent of the owner.

The two examples given above provide us with support that gift giving and gifts were connected to respect. However, throughout the Odyssey we also witness the operation of a degenerate society going against what was important to Homeric society. Polyphemus didn’t worship the gods and lived in caves. They didn’t live like how Odyssey or those from Homeric societies were accustoming to. They went against the guest-host relationship because they simply didn’t care. Polyphemus doesn’t provide Odysseus and his men with food instead he ate all of it. Yes, like the previous examples he asks that who they are but he didn’t offer them something to eat. This deviating from what is expected in Homeric society. Odysseus states “ Your filthy crimes came down on your own head, you shameless cannibal, daring to eat your guest in your own house.” (Book IX) Odysseus expected a gift and some sort of hospitality from Polyphemus. He gives Polyphemus the opportunity to provide them with gifts, transportation, anything. Odysseus reaction to his treatment from Polyphemus shows us how important and valued the guest-host relationship was. Polyphemus was not the only one to challenge

Empathy is the ability to share emotions and feelings with others. This skill requires people to look at things from another person’s point of view. Harper Lee implies in To Kill A Mockingbird that having the ability to feel empathy for others not only benefits others, but also can lead to personal gains in the long run. Empathy is demonstrated through the relationship of the characters of Scout with Walter Cunningham, Atticus with Tom Robinson and the children, and finally, Jem Finch with Mrs. Dubose.

Resulting in angering Polyphemus’ father, Poseidon, who has curse Odysseus to never return home with years of bad luck. Indicating that Odysseus cockiness has lead Odysseus to try too hard to be heroic in unnecessary situation. Though, a point could be made that the Polyphemus does do bad things to people on the island, but nobody really ask for help from Odysseus. He kind of just take self liberty to bring justice to the people by defeating the Polyphemus. Not to mention, that the Polyphemus offer him a chance to forget all about the incident and be friend, but instead of accepting that offer, Odysseus provoke him even more by saying, “If I could take your life I would and take your time away, and hurl you down to hell!” (line 480, pg. 997). To put in simpler term, Odysseus indicate that he will never befriend the Cyclops for he is horrible creature that should be annihilated. Showing the reader how rashly Odysseus made his decision, as he could have make friend with Polyphemus, and continue on to his voyage home instead of putting himself in a bad position by insulting the Cyclop. Lastly, another quality that is bad about Odysseus is that he is selfish. For once, when he has come across an island on his way from Troy, he had decided to raid the village and take women as hostages for sexual pleasure. Showing how he is only doing this for his own need and not caring about the people that live in that village. He

In the epic the odyssey written by homer the theme of reciprocity clearly affects the characters of the odyssey.reciprocity clearly affect the characters odysseus, his men and antinous

Homer values the characteristic of hospitality because the characters who do not demonstrate this characteristic typically suffer fatal or near-fatal injuries. In the Odyssey, Penelope (Odysseus’ wife) was hosting an event to make one of the suitors (potential marriage partners) her new husband because she had given up hope that Odysseus would not return home. The men who were at her house would just eat and drink, and showed no hospitality (21.70-78). In the Odyssey, Odysseus had attended this event disguised, and became aware of Penelope’s discourteous guests. Odysseus then goes on a “rampage” and slaughters all of the guests except for a few men who Telemachus (Odysseus’ son) swore their loyalty (22.16-529). Additionally, in chapter 21, Antinoös was the first to be killed because of his abrupt and rude manners, and distinctly

In the Odyssey, Odysseus exemplified strong leadership and outstanding noble qualities. Like Achilles, Odysseus carried some flaws at the beginning of the story. A strong case can be made that his biggest flaw as a character was pride as it caused him unnecessary risks that only delayed his journey and possibly endangered his men. This is evidently shown when Odysseus and his crew wander around in Polyphemos ' cave. After the confrontation with the Polyphemos, Odysseus and his men escaped by stabbing Polyphemos’ in the eye while he was asleep. Once Odysseus and his men were safe on board on their ship, Odysseus took it upon himself to reveal his true identity and proceeded to taunt Polyphemos. At

Odysseus thinks that his reasoning are final and his activities are constantly just and right, although he frequently allows his ego control his rational thinking, resulting harm to his group and messing with the gods’s plans. His men could have went back home Securely for it is the desire of Athena and the other heavenly gods who surround to her in Mount Olympus, however Odysseus takes it to himself to outrage and blind Polyphemus, the monstrous son of Poseidon, adored by his dad yet abhorred by the people, In this way distrusting their whole arrangement . Subsequent to being blinded by the heroine, Polyphemus tosses huge pieces of rocks at Odysseus's ship, nearly obliterating them at the same time. But instead of retreating for safety, Odysseus keeps on provoking Polyphemus and “[calls] out to the cyclopes again, with [his] men hanging all over [him] begging him not to”(Book 9, 491-492). His feeling of pride and presumption influences to disregard the requests of his people even in these critical circumstances . He will fulfill his own feeling of interest and pleasure without thinking of the result it would have on his crew. Despite the fact that he is bound to get away from all passings and assaults, his group isn’t so blessed. Their lives are in mortal peril since Odysseus considers them as child sheeps who should forfeit their lives for him when the circumstances comes, much the same as how mortals make conciliatory offerings of sheeps for the heavenly gods. He is willing to fulfill his own feeling of interest without thinking of his groups lives or their suppositions and is regularly infuriated when they negate his request. If they hurt his sense of pride and self-importance and pomposity , Odysseus will be overcome with outrage and

Polyphemus is seen in a negative light by not being the friendliest or most hospitable form of a person due to his nature. Odysseus and Polyphemus were having a conversation and out of no where Polyphemus attacked and ate two of Odysseus’ men. Odysseus says, “This brought no response

Empathy is the ability to understand and experience the feelings of others, particularly others’ suffering. Humanity’s gift of understanding complex emotions ushers in a new way of understanding ourselves and how we react to stimuli. This ultimately leads to questioning of everything, leading us to one strong notion: Does empathy guide or hinder moral action?

In The Odyssey, Odysseus changes from the beginning of the story when he was being cocky wanting glory but at the end he is more humble and is more respectful. In this part of the story Odysseus and his men just got out of Polyphemus's cave. The text states,”tell him Odysseus, raider of the cities, took your eye” (Homer 110). This quote reveals how

The crew sails to the land of the Cyclopes, and find food in Polyphemus’ cave; the men advise Odysseus to snatch some of the food and leave, but he decides to stay for a while longer. Polyphemus soon returns and makes a show of hospitality at first, but he soon turns impatient and hostile – ‘“Give me still more, frely, and tell me your name straightway now, so I can give you a guest present to make you happy.”’ (Homer, 9.355-356). He promises Odysseus him a lovely gift if he will tell him his name, but in reality he just wants his name so that he could curse him. He devours some of Odysseus’s men and imprisons Odysseus and the rest in his cave, but Odysseus blinds him with a spear and escapes. Compare Polyphemus’ interactions with the men and the principles of “good” xenia, and you would find the exact opposite of what would have been considered “adequate” hospitality; the Cyclops, instead of offering food and a place to rest like in the previous example of Menelaus’ treatment of Telemachus and his crew, becomes irritated with Odysseus and his men and even eats some of them then imprisons the rest. (Hinds,

“The Cyclops” an epic of The Odyssey. To the Greeks, evil is something that takes away from their purpose. The eight Greek evil thoughts contain, greed, pride, indulgence of sadness, holding anger, boasting and wallowing in depression. “The Cyclops” is an epic that includes the antagonist, the Cyclops, and the protagonist, Odysseus. Odysseus looks for trouble, when he encounters the Cyclops, Polyphemus, and walks into the Polyphemus’ cave, with his men in tow. Some of the men died, but their last day in the cave, Odysseus and four other men stabbed the Polyphemus in the eye and waited to the next day to get out of the cave. Odysseus demonstrates two Greek evil thoughts, Kenodoxia(boasing) and Philargyria(greed). Kenodoxia (Boasting), talking

After nine years of fighting the fall of Troy was a great feat in Greek history. Oddyseuss and his men were blown of course from the greek armies as they sailed home to Ithaca. After they had been split up Oddysuess and his men had multiple treachorus encounters, one of them being Sicily, island of the cyclopes, the coast along the mediterranean sea which they stopped upon. They stopped only to gather supplies and hunt for food and it turned out to be a near death experience for many of them.

Odysseus has no regard for the consequence of his actions and his self-control he once displayed before is now gone. Odysseus actions are problematic, but he is aware of what he is provoking. The way he continues to provoke Polyphemus even when he knows it is wrong is very ignorant